Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2001-07-17
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S167100, C015SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260229
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to articles made of polymeric monofilaments, and more particularly, to looped bristles, methods for making looped bristles and bristle sub-assemblies, and monofilament bristle sub-assemblies connected to brush bodies.
The aforementioned co-pending application describes a manufacturing technique in which a base string is fed axially along a mandrel while at the same time a monofilament is wrapped around the mandrel, thereby producing a plurality of “wraps” which are transported along the mandrel by the base string. The wraps are then bonded to the base string using an ultrasonic welder, and subsequently cut to thereby form an article having two rows of monofilament segments connected to the base string.
This article, called a “bristle string,” can then be cut to lengths and used to make a variety of brushes or other products requiring bristles. In one example, several rows of bristles are formed in a toothbrush by mounting the bristle string segments in the head portion of a toothbrush. Typically, the proximal ends of the bristles are connected to the brush head and the distal ends extend freely upwardly.
Brushes with looped bristles have been used in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,217 to Gueret describes a hair and massage brush in which the bristles are bent to form loops which are anchored in perforations formed in the brush head fusing the ends together. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,032 to Diamant describes a toothbrush which includes a filament wrapped around the head to form a plurality of circular loops.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,125 to Collis describes a toothbrush having a combination of curved bristles and straight bristles. The curved bristles were formed by having opposite ends of straight filaments embedded in the head of the toothbrush in groups, thereby forming loops. The loops are then cut axially to form two rows of curved bristles. Other examples where looped bristles are used in a toothbrush are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,030,845 to Deckert, 2,599,191 to Meunier, and 4,438,541 to Jacob et al.
While these show various forms of loop bristles, a need exists for a looped bristle structure that is relatively easy to manufacture and cost effective to produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide means to expand brush design beyond the range possible with current tufting techniques.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bristle sub-assembly for a brush in which individual filaments are positionally fixed with respect to each other prior to connection to a brush body.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling brushes in which bristle sub-assemblies can be permanently connected to the brush body or, alternatively, detachably connected for subsequent replacement, thereby avoiding wastefully discarding otherwise functional brush bodies.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a brush that has a combination of arched bristles, looped bristles and straight bristles, whereby both types of bristles can be assembled without using conventional tufting techniques.
These and other objects are met by providing a bristle sub-assembly which includes two substantially parallel base strings and a plurality of polymeric monofilaments connected transversely between the two base strings. When the two base strings are juxtaposed to each other, they form a single row of arched monofilaments. The row of arched monofilaments can be sized to a desired length by cutting the two base strings and then connecting them to a brush head in desired patterns.
Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1625857 (1927-04-01), Jumonville
patent: 2599191 (1952-06-01), Meunier
patent: 3520017 (1970-07-01), Moss
patent: 3568234 (1971-03-01), Komatsu
patent: 4030845 (1977-06-01), Deckert
patent: 4133147 (1979-01-01), Swift, Jr.
patent: 4211217 (1980-07-01), Gueret
patent: 4325900 (1982-04-01), Holding et al.
patent: 4325902 (1982-04-01), Holding
patent: 4382309 (1983-05-01), Collis
patent: 4406032 (1983-09-01), Diamant
patent: 4438541 (1984-03-01), Jacob et al.
patent: 4493125 (1985-01-01), Collis
patent: 4616374 (1986-10-01), Novogrodsky
patent: 4625738 (1986-12-01), Skovdal et al.
patent: 5638569 (1997-06-01), Newell
patent: 5967617 (1999-10-01), Zapanta
patent: 6023809 (2000-02-01), Demetriades
patent: 3624343 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 0635222 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 99/42019 (1999-08-01), None
patent: WO 99/62371 (1999-12-01), None
PCT International Search Report dated May 30, 2000.
Bucker Roberto
Edwards Mark Stephen
Marshall Wayne Hugh
Chin Randall E.
E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
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